What Prompts Violence In Society?

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

It doesn't have to be anything huge or detrimental that drives someone over the edge. You could just be having a bad day and something so infinitesimal as a spoon sitting on the counter could make you attack anyone in your path.

The straw that broke the camel's back, anyone?

[Relambrien]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

The straw that broke the camel's back, anyone?

Stole the words from my mouth.

Anyway, things contributing to violence in society...well, I'd have to say that competition is one. In most, if not all, species of animals, there is some kind of competition to determine which of a group is strongest or most apt. Rams headbutt each other, for instance.

Humans are similar. When someone is really annoyed or angry, and someone just does something that drives them past their limit, it's a natural instinct to prove dominance to the person who performed the act. Why? The act has the effect of an act of aggression towards the person, and so the person responds in kind, with proof of dominance through physical superiority.

That's my take on things anyway.

[MarukuAntoni]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

someone told me that in japan, crime is lower than other countries because of the horror films they watch. they say that the gore in horror movies disgust them and therefore prevent them from committing crimes that cause others to bleed.
i find this to be a load of crap though. i think its a ploy to get others to watch japanese horror movies. however i do watch japanese horror movies because theyre cool.

many factors prompt many to commit violent acts. many say video games and parenting. it can also be the competitive spirit in others. someone talks crap about the opposing team, thus initiating a conflict with a fan of the opposing side.

[tsugomaru]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

It is society itself. Go figure.

Most people who are violent have a reason to be and not only is it a reason, it's a good one. During some point of their life, they were treated very unfairly and after one violent action, that's it for them. Today's society has no mercy on the unfairly treated, no kindness is shown to the broken hearts of the assailant.

Take VATech. The guy was pretty messed up, but was it really his fault he acted the way he did? Partially yes, partially no. Sometime during his childhood, he probably wasn't accepted by his peers causing him to distrust those around him. When he got into college, people did try to reach out to him, but he turned everyone's help away.

~Tsugomaru

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Tsugomaru, we are taught the difference between "right" and "wrong" and I find it very hard to believe that these people would be able to suitably justify that their actions are "right."

[tsugomaru]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Who knows. I don't have the mindset of a violent person so I cannot tell you how one would think.

~Tsugomaru

[devonin]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Actually Shasta, I think you'll find that people in general, but that kind of person specifically is incredibly good at justification. Some of the worst villainous types in history very firmly believed that they were doing the right and good thing. Look at the entire concept of religious zealotry. Anyone caught up in that is almost certain to believe that they are doing the right thing.

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

I meant that they'd be able to justify it to another person who does not hold the same view as them.

The guy from Virginia Tech, for example, may feel that his decision to kill all those people was right, but if he tried to justify it to say, you or me, I think he would be quite hard put to get us to say, "Ah, I see."

[Go_Oilers_Go]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

If you guys are trying to simplify it down to the fact that we let instinct take over then doesn't that hypothetically make us no worse than barbarians if we let instinct take over reason?

[Relambrien]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

If you guys are trying to simplify it down to the fact that we let instinct take over then doesn't that hypothetically make us no worse than barbarians if we let instinct take over reason?

There is a point when one can subconsciously decide something to the effect of "Screw it, I'm not going to bother trying to deal with this anymore" and just let certain instincts or "programming" take over. Violence is actually probably the prime example, because being able to restrain yourself is the reason, and losing control and going Rambo on people is the instinct. Now, of course there is still some reasoning involved while going Rambo, particularly towards how to effectively achieve your violent goal, but the instinct to eliminate what is perceived as a threat is in control.

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Lol, Rambo.

Also, no. I think that we are much more civilized than barbarians due to modernization and our heightened intelligences. We don't go to war with every neighboring nomadic group and stick their heads on spears and eat their flesh.

At least that I know of.

[Go_Oilers_Go]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Lol, Rambo.

Also, no. I think that we are much more civilized than barbarians due to modernization and our heightened intelligences. We don't go to war with every neighboring nomadic group and stick their heads on spears and eat their flesh.

At least that I know of.

USA vs Mexico, anyone?

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

I'm going to eat your flesh.

[tsugomaru]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

I think he would be quite hard put to get us to say, "Ah, I see."

This is the main problem. This is precisely what I mean when I say society can be so unforgiving. It really isn't our fault that we can't see it from his point of view because in truth, we really can't. Most of us here cannot say we've stood in his position and understand what his feelings were. We can discuss about his environment, but in the end, it's all still speculation.

It's difficult to understand a violent man because who gets to justify his feelings? Is it the violent man? Or is it us, who found some obscure reason to justify our part of the problem?

~Tsugomaru

[ShastaTwist]

Re: What Prompts Violence In Society?

Well, he killed himself so...